Kane Wommack explains decision to take Alabama defensive coordinator opportunity

Kane Wommack was more than happy with his job as the head coach of South Alabama. However, when Alabama came looking for a new defensive coordinator, it was a chance that he says he couldn’t pass up on.

Wommack spoke with Creg Stephenson at AL.com about his decision to join Kalen DeBoer’s staff after stepping down from his role with the Jaguars. After several years of loving his work in Mobile, including the last three as the leader of the program, he simply said that the opportunity with the Crimson Tide is one he had to take.

“There are very few things that could have pulled me away from the head coaching job at South Alabama because I love the city of Mobile,” said Wommack. “I love this university, love these players and believe in what can be accomplished here, knowing that our best days are still ahead of us. But this was one I couldn’t avoid.”

“People across the country know that what happens in Tuscaloosa is special and the opportunity to do it with one of my best friends in this profession and someone that I trust immensely and believe in as a person and as a coach? I couldn’t pass on that opportunity to do it with the best in the country.”

That best friend that Wommack is referring to is the new head coach of the Crimson Tide himself. DeBoer and Wommack crossed paths in 2019 as the offensive and defensive coordinators for the Indiana Hoosiers. Now, five years later, the two will reunite on the sidelines in Tuscaloosa.

“I think if you understand Kalen DeBoer? Who he is as a man, who he is as a coach? The confidence that you feel being around him, that we’re going to get the job done? It was a very easy decision from that part,” said Wommack. “It was hard but the decision to do it with Kalen DeBoer at Alabama was easy. We’re talking on the phone yesterday. I answered the phone, he says, ‘Are you ready for this?’ and then offers the job. I felt the excitement in his voice.”

“Him and I have been working for an opportunity like this and we always dreamed about doing it together and had no idea that this would be the opportunity but it just feels like the stars have aligned for a number of us to go do something really special at Alabama.”

Wommack will leave South Alabama with a record of 22-16. That includes a program-best 10-3 mark in 2022. It also features he first bowl win in the team’s history in the 68 Ventures Bowl this year. He arrives with coaching experience at UT-Martin, Jacksonville State, Ole Miss, Eastern Illinois as well.

He will now work with DeBoer to build the rest of the defensive staff under him. At the moment, it only features a return from Freddie Roach as coach of the defensive line.

It’s not always easy to leave something behind that you’ve worked so hard to build. However, when this chance came his way from DeBoer, he was certain that he had to take it to work alongside an old colleague and to coach some of the best players in the nation.

“When I looked at this opportunity, what Alabama football means to college football and the resources and expectation and players that you have an opportunity to coach? My dad went 38 years in his career, had the some of the best defenses in the country and never had an opportunity to coach players of the caliber that I’m getting ready to coach day-in and day-out.”

“To do it with somebody that I believe in and trust, that I’m excited to go work alongside every single day is an opportunity I could not pass up,” said Wommack.